Four (1/1)

Four   She drives over 60 miles/hour like a madwoman, eager to confront her husband about her suspicion. If it’s all true, he will be a very very sorry husband in the world. How dare he touch her when he occasionally still coming to his lover? Yuri shakes her head in disgust. She won’t have her husband cheat behind her back. Not when she still has breath in her lungs. Why, it hasn’t even a month pass they married, he has already dishonest to her. All those sweet words, delightful flirts, and wonderful joining in their bed mean nothing to him. All feels like a big lie. Son of a bitch! Yuri takes a deep steadying breath. She will surely ask for divorce, be damned with business. Her siblings will understand. They will ask her to do so. She charges to the top floor where her husband occupied the whole room for his office. Without so much word for his secretary, she opens the door. Her cheeks wet and her eyes blood-red for too much shedding tears. “Sir?” The secretary is standing close beside her, sounding so anxious calling her boss. Yunho appears to be facing the wall with phone is in his ear. He is in conversation with someone. Yuri is standing straight, hands clench into fists. Her purse falls to the floor. Her eyes are ready to give more than glare for him. Slowly, he turns. But oddly, he doesn’t seem surprised at her sudden appearance. They all know Yuri never put a step on her husband’s office. He looks too calm and collected, as usual. With a wave of his hand, he dismisses the secretary who is appearing very grateful to be out of the war field. Her rage roars. With trembling finger, Yuri point at him accusingly. “How dare you?!” “Baby, sit down please.” He rises from his chair. The stiffness of his shoulder betrays his composure. He knows what she will say, what this is about. Her courage falters. “I can’t believe you do this to me.” Her hand limps back to her side. Sigh of defeat is his answer. Yuri almost sinks to the floor if it’s not for the wall beside her. “Baby, please.” “Don’t get coming closer!” She is all but shouts. “Not even a step!” Her eyes close tightly because her head is spinning around. Yuri is leaning most of her weight to the wall, grateful for its support more than anything. “Yuri, hear me out. I can explain it.” His patience seems decrease each second passes, but Yuri doesn’t stop attacking him. “Who were you talking with in the phone? Your father? Or was that Jessica?” His lips are thinning and he appears to lose his control too. “Sit.” He says curtly. “I forget to tell you that I’m not taking order very well.” “Don’t make me hurt you, Yuri.” He frowns at her. But even seeing him frowning is more than enough to make her heart beat faster. He looks so breathtakingly handsome in his suit. And she is the one who has prepared his suit this morning. If only she didn’t come to meet her friends. Yuri shakes her head. She will not forever live in lie. She’d rather have the truth right now than later. The faster she get rid of him from her life, the faster she will heal from heartbroken.  “Why husband, you already are. I’m so stupid to think that we would work. I’m so stupid to let your words became my hope. I’m so stupid to agree to this marriage.” And I’m so stupid to let my self falling in love with you. Her throat closes painfully. “Careful. You may regret those words you’ve said later.”  She shakes her head. “Is it true then?” He remains silent. His eyes are staring at her deeply. “Tell me Yunho. Was it amusing to make fun of your wife?” Tears roll down her cheeks, but she doesn’t bother to wipe them. Let him know what he has done to her. “Am I expected to be the last person to know? Answer my questions, damn it!” “I’m sorry.” The answer is not what she expected. She’d rather have him deny it. The ugly truth is apparently thousand times more painful than what she thought. Her knees buckle and she sinks down to the floor. It appears that the earth still in its axis even when her world has crushed down. “Divorce me.” Yuri blurt out. She doesn’t want to look at him. She is afraid if there is no remorse in his eyes. “I can’t.” Yunho shakes his head. Still not looking at her husband, she counters. “I free you from obligation. At least, we’ve married. No one will voice their objections even if we fail keeping it. It happens most of the time.” “I won’t disgrace my wedding vow.” She laughs harshly at his words. “Have you heard yourself? It’s all bullshit! Let’s tell everyone that I jilted you.” “No one will believe.” Her head whirls sharply at him. Still sitting in the floor, she doesn’t feel a bit intimidated by his standing position. Maybe this is the power of anger. Oh God, but it hurts. It hurts so much she can’t breathe. “You are right.” Yuri says carefully. “No one will believe such a thing. That will be the biggest lie –“ “Yuri,” “But we can’t let the truth revealed. It will destroy our companies. I won’t let my brother and sister suffering because of your sin, not after I sacrificed –“ “Yuri,” “Oh god, what have I done?” She hugs her knees and curls like a ball, her head is rested on her knees. “Wait! You can tell everyone that I’m barren!” She looks up abruptly. Her eyes bright with the pain of betrayal. “Yes that’s it! Tell everyone that I’m barren. I’m okay with it.” He grabs her arms and lifts her from the floor harshly. “Stop it! I’ll not let anything, anyone harm you!” He shakes Yuri hard enough to put some senses into her. “I will never divorce you. You are my wife both in front of the law and God.” Her face crumbles “But I don’t want to live like this. I don’t want to stay as your wife. Let me go Yunho. I will bear the shame myself. Your name will be flawless as what it should be.” “Don’t be like this Yuri.” Yunho gathers her in his arms while she weeping into oblivion. “Stop hurting yourself. I’m sorry. God, I’m so sorry.” He kisses her nose, her eyes and her forehead. Yunho knows that his wife doesn’t hear it, still he means it.   Yuri wakes up with throbbing in her head. She realizes that the sun has come up. Where is her -  She stops rubbing her temple. Memories one by one come like pieces into place. The café, the woman, her husband, all rush into one painful moment. Her clothes are still the same as yesterday. But she is in their bed – “You awake.” Her husband opens the door of the bathroom cautiously. He is wearing his robe. The smell of fresh soap lingers in the room. Yuri scrambles to her feet. Her sudden movement makes her head spinning. She limps and her husband catches her before she hit the floor. “Easy there,” His arms circle around her waist so naturally. “Are you okay?” The heels of her palm jab against his shoulder to shove him away. Yunho doesn’t budge even an inch. Yuri begins shaking her head furiously. “Baby, baby . . .  calm down” Yuri punches at him, throwing her tantrum. He has no right to touch her, much more hugging her. She has through all of his betrayal. She wants her freedom. In one swift movement, her husband has her on her back in the middle of the bed. Her hands are pinned above her head with one hand, while he is sprawled on top of her. His other hand is firmly yet gently holding her jaw. “Stop it.” “Let me go.” She squirms underneath him, wanting to throw him off to the floor. “Let me go!” “Look at me.” He says softly. “Look at me, Yuri.” She burst out crying. Her whole body shakes along with her cry. “Oh god, I’m sorry.” Efficiently, Yunho flips them both so that she is on top of him. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Yuri is still punching at his chest. But the blows seem have no effect on her husband. He appears doesn’t mind with it. In fact he welcomes her blows as if he has waited for it. He is wrong then if he thought it will make her change her mind. She won’t forgive him. “Yes. Release it all on me. I’ve hurt you. Now is your turn to hurt me.” Her fists stop in the air. The words sting her anew. She can’t hurt him. She hates him but she doesn’t want to hurt him. She starts struggle to get up but his arms are iron bar around her. “You have no place to run from me.” He whispers fiercely. “No one can hide you from me. You are mine.” As if having no mercy, he starts kissing her wet cheeks. Yunho knows very well that she weak with his kisses. Yuri loses her power once his lips touch her skin. Suddenly, she feels so tired. “Fine. You can have my body, but not my heart.” Yunho’s eyes widen as if she just slapped him. “You didn’t mean it.” She doesn’t bother to answer him. But, instead of triumph, Yuri feels nothing but pain. Looking at his eyes earlier, her heart feels like ripped into two. How can she still love him even after all of his unfaithfulness? She’s not only stupid. She is also pathetic. And now in his arms, she will do anything including forgiving him. Only, she can’t talk because she is weeping.   Later, Yuri finds herself sitting in the couch with his sister as if nothing happens. Yunho has left when she fallen asleep. He slipped her under the cover and undressed her swiftly until she woke up and once again felt disoriented as if everything was a nightmare. “You are angry.” Jessica says weakly. “Who would not?!” Yuri retorts back. “Especially when one found out her husband cheated behind her back.” “I’ve experienced the same. You remembered Taecyeon, right? He slept with my childhood friend.” Yuri feels sorry for her sister-in-law. Still – “Then what’s the point? They are all same, so greedy that having one isn’t enough.” Jessica cringes in her seat. “I confronted him about this before you two left for honeymoon.” Her hands shaking, Yuri put down her cup on the table. New anger surges inside her. “Exactly, how long he’s been seeing her? Before we married?”  “My brother planned to marry her but father disagreed. Yunho is not in love with her. All he sees in her is practicality. He knows that she is shallow.” “Then why –“ Jessica looks up for the first time. Her eyes are brimming with tears. “Yuri, my brother is afraid to get hurt.” All Yuri can do is gaping at her. Then she blinks in disbelief.  “Are you thinking that all this nonsense will cool down my anger?” Jessica frantically shakes her head. “He never told anyone before, but I knew. I always knew because this is all my fault and dad’s.” “Why?” “You know, I’d do anything to stop this marriage but dad couldn’t be crossed. I was afraid of his health. I couldn’t risk it. Then I saw the way my brother stared at you.” She fishes her purse fervently. “Here,” She holds a photo in the air for her. Yuri takes it with her shaking hands. When she looks at it, she can’t hold back the tears from escaping. “She is our mother.” Yuri gazes at her sister-in-law in disbelief. “I know. That is why dad insisted him to marry you, that is why my brother couldn’t stop looking at you, that is why I hated you.” Jessica swallows hardly. “You look like our mother Yuri. Every inch of you remind us to her.” They both fall into silent, Yuri is still staring at the picture while Jessica sobbing into her hands.   “I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault.” Jessica shakes her head. “Just give my brother his second chance.” Yuri stares at her ruefully. “If he can’t love that woman, surely he cannot love me.” “But you never know Yuri.” Jessica is all but begging at her. “Please, let time heals your wound. Give time for my brother to love you.” Yuri is not familiar having someone begging at her, much more it is Jessica who always have her ways as pleased as she want.  “Jess –“ “No, listen to me. I know you care for him. I can see it in your eyes. If you don’t, you wouldn’t react this way.” She kneels in front of her. “And he cares for you too Yuri, much for his discomfort since he doesn’t believe in love. Give him a chance.” Yuri realizes that Jessica has the same brown eyes that hold power over her. She nods.